HBU’s U15s and their parents made the journey to Sudbury to stage their “home” tournament. Going into the tournament HBU were 3rd in the table with Kings Lynn top and Cottenham in 2nd place.

HBU v Cottenham 4 – 3

In the first match with Cottenham, HBU started well but struggled to hang on to the lead. Despite having most of the possession HBU could not beat the goalkeeper and failure to score goals led to counter-attacks that made the score 3-3 at half time. In the 2nd half HBU played more cautiously, scored just once and allowed no reply from Cottenham. As it happened, Cottenham were fielding an over-age goalkeeper so the win would have been recorded to HBU in any event. This was thus a useful start to the day and demonstrated the need to convert possession in goals more effectively in the next three matches. HBU scorers – Martindale, Mount, Greenwood, Butcher.

HBU v Ely 16 – 0

In this match the team responded to the instructions not to waste their chances to score goals and ran up a tally of 5 goals in the first 5 minutes of the match. With a 5 goal cushion they took their foot off the gas and the score was 7 – 0 at half-time. There was a half-time reminder that this was an opportunity to practice to improve goal-scoring as it might be necessary in the next matches against teams HBU had drawn with and lost to in previous encounters. The reminder produced a goal-hungry restart and consistent scoring throughout the half to run in 9 more goals for a 16 – 0 win. HBU scorers – Mount(4), Greenwood(5), Branchett (4), Butcher(2), Jocie Greenwood.

HBU v Bury 9 – 2

HBU started in the same way as they had in the previous match with three goals in the first 3 minutes. HBU then got bogged down as they had in the first match and Bury stiffened their defence and were able to score a counter-attack goal just before half time. After the interval HBU again started systematically and took their 3 – 1 half-time lead to 6 – 1 before an own-goal made it 6 – 2. HBU scored 3 more goals to make the full-time score 9 – 2 against a team which we had drawn with in the previous tournament. HBU scorers – Greenwood (6), Mount (2), OG

HBU v Kings Lynn 4 – 2

HBU, as usual, went on the offensive from the start but it quickly became clear that Kings Lynn had watched the earlier matches and had decided to maintain a very tight defence and use HBU’s possession against them. The tactic worked very well with HBU only able to force an own-goal mid-way through the 1st half only for Kings Lynn to score on the break just before half-time to give a score of 1 – 1 at the interval. It was now HBU’s turn to consider how to play the 2nd half against a disciplined team who were also very clinical in front of goal. Just 5 minutes into the second half Kings Lynn hit back after an HBU attack and scored to give them the 2 – 1 lead and they clearly had the plan to defend it at all costs. HBU’s efforts were frustrated by tight defence and good goalkeeping and HBU’s frustration was turning into team fouls. With 5 minutes to go Butcher came on for a tiring Martindale and Kings Lynn got caught out by the change of style which immediately produced the equalising goal for HBU. Kings Lynn were rocked by this and HBU took advantage to take the lead with another score in the next minute. HBU’s team fouls then started to rattle up from 5 to 9 in no time flat (at10 Kings Lynn would have been awarded a direct free-hit). The final 3 minutes was very tense and HBU managed to stay out of trouble with the referee and scored with just 9 seconds on the clock (quite a relief as we could not see the clock from the dug-out!). HBU scorers – Butcher, Greenwood, Mount.

HBU Manager Ron Barker commented “The day worked out really well for the team. The first match got the cobwebs out of the system and the 2nd match allowed us to get into a rhythm of scoring which we dearly needed against Bury and Kings Lynn. We are now level at the top of the table with Kings Lynn as they managed to drop a point against Bury. Our next match in this league is next month and it is our final and decisive encounter with Kings Lynn; we can be sure they will be working to be even better at keeping us out and hitting back on the break. We’ll be working on what we have to do too”.

I would like to thank all the parents who travelled with the team to carry out transport, timekeeping, scoring and other duties that go with the “home” tournament. The Sudbury sports centre and local roller hockey enthusiasts were very helpful to us visitors unfamiliar with the facilities. Unfortunately, we cannot use the Herne Bay Arena for Eastern Counties matches as they must be played in the Eastern Counties area which is more or less East Anglia.

Herne Bay United returned to the top of the premier league maintaining their 100% record of 7 wins in 7 premierleague games this season with a 1-3 win over local rivals Invicta.

United controlled the game right from the outset and never looked to be under any pressure. Invicta defended well but as the half wore on United started to create a few chances. With 12 minutes remaining in the first half United’s Danny Butcher picked the ball up midway in his own half, sprinted half the length of the rink before firing an unstoppable slap shot into the top left hand corner of the goal to put United ahead (0-1). Invicta did not let their heads drop and managed to equalise through Joel Defiguerado, who scored with a close range volley to tie the game at 1-1. United responded with a string of chances which were all saved by Invicta’s goalie (Joel Carnell), who was having a very good game. Then with 5 minutes left in the half a mishit pass from invicta captain Peter Halvorsen fell straight to United’s captain Fabio Vicente who cooly slotted the ball home past a helpless Carnell in Invita’s goal to restore united’s lead. (1-2). At halftime the score remained (1-2).

The second half mirrored the first. United controlled the game, limiting Invicta to long range efforts which were easily saved by Jay Williamson in United’s net. United were creating more chances and Joel Carnell was having to work extremely hard in the Invicta goal. Then with 14 minutes left United’s Brendan Barker struck a fierce slap shot that hit Carnell in his visor of his helment, the ball rebounded straight out to Neil Austin who rifled the ball from outside of the penalty area straight into the top corner of the goal to make it 1-3 to United. The rest of the match passed without incident. United controlled the game in defence and attack. Invicta continued to battle but never looked like scoring the goals necessary to bring them back into the match. The game ended 1-3.

After the game United’s David Todd said: “We are very pleased to get the 3 points. Invicta are an improving side. There are no easy games in the premier league anymore. We have been learning a whole new system of play and it is going to take time for us to get used to it. It’s fantastic that we are top of the league and undefeated, this year is all about developing our style of play, and bringing on the younger players to give us the foundation to build on moving forward. The lads are working hard and we are just taking each game as it comes. It’s exciting to be a part of it”.

United Manager Phil McVey added: “To completely change the system that the team plays is a huge undertaking. The players are all working hard to get it right, it isn’t going to happen overnight. That said we have become so more solid in defence, playing the way we used to play we were always vulnerable to the counter –attack and that is how we conceded most of goals in the last few years. We are looking far more solid at the back, at the moment we are not scoring the amount of goals that we would like, but that will come in time. I told the players in the dressing room, when it does click in attack someone is going to be on the end of a thrashing. We need patience, it not a quick fix. We have lost the league for the last 2 seasons, this season is all about developing a style of play that can take us back to the top and enable us to challenge for the title for years to come. It is not just the 1st team, we are teaching this at every age group within the club. That said we find ourselves sitting top of the league with 21 points out of 21. I would still say that we are 3rd or 4th favourites for the title. Grimsby are the current champions so they would have to be one of the favourites, the other main favourites are Manchester. They have only dropped 3 points so far and are looking very strong. Bury are also in with a chance. We are not thinking about the title this year, we just need to concentrate on our own performance in our next match.”

Due to the Demand and being at Full Capacity, HBU can at this time offer NO further registrations. This does not include persons who are already in process of registration or people who have attended there second or first free skate session on Friday 8th February 2013 this is the Cut off point.

The Friday night Social Skate is now only open to Members, person in registration process or person currently on their second or first free skate.

We apologise for any inconvenience to persons who were looking to attend in the future, we will announce when this session is open to New Registrations again and thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you in the Future!

Herne Bay United travelled to Farnham for their 3rd National Division 1 Tournament of the season with the aim to remain on top. HBU have over this season been in a good position as a club with a large amount of selectable players in Premier League and National Division 1, also with a good amount of Under 17’s also available for selection in National Division 1. (more…)